Leon Draisaitl vs Nikita Kucherov: Who is the Best European Forward?

[blundluntman]

You can use that same argument against Kucherov. He plays on the best team over the past half decade (and arguable one of the best teams ever assembled) so he sure as hell wouldn't be putting up the numbers he does on Anaheim or without Hedman, Stamkos and Point. Drai won the hart when McDavid was injured so he's proven he can do it on his own.

There are good arguments for both players. One plays on one of the best teams while the other plays with the best player. I think if both players swapped teams they would be just as successful as they are now as they are very similar in style.

That's a fair argument. I guess I give Kucherov more credit because he's the best forward on his team and plays with linemates that aren't quite as good as McDavid. They're pretty close though so it could go either way

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

What absurd statements. I understand the need to occasionally exaggerate when making arguments but that's overkill.

I'm sure Kucherov has a large impact on the star players around him, and draisaitl does it too with often average linemates (it was always average linemates when he wasn't playing with McDavid prior to last year). Not to mention Edmonton hasn't had a puck moving dman in forever. I think we can both agree that having a 5 time Norris candidate who put up 85 points last year is beneficial to scoring goals.

What's absurd about it? I stated a fact that Point couldn't even reach PPG in any of the last 3 seasons without Kucherov. In terms of offensive production, what do you call a player who isn't PPG for 3 consecutive seasons? Even the most die hard Tampa fans wouldn't call Stamkos a line driver. Hedman having 85pts last season has nothing to do with anything. In Kucherov's best season Hedman had 54pts. Nothing special about that.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Draisaitl has more points per game than McDavid or anyone else in the playoffs so far and I think you seriously underestimate how much Hedman and Point drive the play allowing Kucherov to set up in the offensive zone more and having a finisher like Stamkos on the powerplay to work with. I don't think there's a clear correct answer here but really many of the reasons given don't make much sense and Draisaitl has also consistently been the far better goal scorer and clearly better offensive producer for the last 3 seasons now.

PPG is great but doesn't mean anything when the other guy has played 100+ more games. Even if we say their best run is a wash, Kucherov has at least 5 other runs better than Drais 2nd best.

Point drives the play so much but he couldn't drive himself to even 1 PPG season without Kucherov.

 

[Nemesis Prime]

Hedman not being a star offensive defenseman might be one of the smoothest brain takes I've ever seen.

 

[Eltuna]

Drai gets an unfair rep playing behind McDavid. Malkin had the “advantage” of Crosby being injured a lot during his peak so he could show what he could do more frequently, McDavid is a bit of an iron man though so Drai doesn’t get the chance as often.

Unfortunately if things continue the way they are he will never get his due, playing with an easy top 5 offensive talent of all time in McDavid will always make people skeptical of how he would look without him.

I would take him over Kucherov for a playoff run today, although either could have the better series and it wouldn’t surprise me

 

[authentic]

PPG is great but doesn't mean anything when the other guy has played 100+ more games. Even if we say their best run is a wash, Kucherov has at least 5 other runs better than Drais 2nd best.

Point drives the play so much but he couldn't drive himself to even 1 PPG season without Kucherov.

You’re focusing a lot on points only. Who do you think plays defense on that line and creates tons of zone entries.

 

[centipede2233]

Going with Dr.Drai.

 

[MessierII]

What's absurd about it? I stated a fact that Point couldn't even reach PPG in any of the last 3 seasons without Kucherov. In terms of offensive production, what do you call a player who isn't PPG for 3 consecutive seasons? Even the most die hard Tampa fans wouldn't call Stamkos a line driver. Hedman having 85pts last season has nothing to do with anything. In Kucherov's best season Hedman had 54pts. Nothing special about that.

Lol oilers haven’t had a D man get 85 points in about 35 years. Even when they did he wasn’t the defensive beast Hedman is. What a ridiculous thing to say. Kucherov benefits massively from Hedman, stamkos, point all of them.

 

[wetcoast]

Kucherov. Not even going to attempt to knock Drai's production, he just rarely is all that impressive to watch but then he ends the game with 3 points lol so I went with the player that impresses me more often.

I actually think that if people watch Draisatal they will be extremely impressed on how he can force his will, particularly in goal scoring.

Kucherov plays a more crafty, shifty type of game and is more subtle.

Sample sizes and results still matter.

50 games is a large enough sample size.

Scoring 5 or 6 points while your team loses in 4 games doesn't make you a good playoff performer.

This makes zero sense as the team loses in 4 game not the individual performance.

 

[McVespa99]

Kucherov for me. Draisaitl is lucky enough to have the best player in the world working with him on the PP and sometimes on the same line. I know he can drive his own offense but he definitely racks up points with McDavid that he wouldn't on his own. And with all that, Kucherov is putting up basically the same numbers. It's probably closer than I think but I feel like Draisaitl gets a bit overrated sometimes

Yah totally. Kuch only plays with stiffs on a team with no other talent.

 

[McVespa99]

Drai is a better passer, better goal scorer, better at protecting the puck, better in the playoffs. Im not sure how anyone could take Kuch in this. Great player obviously but this is Drai.

 

[Canovin]

Definitely a better goal scorer.

But on what basis is he a better playmaker?

Because statistically Kucherov has the edge.

Kucherov

Assists: 1, 2, 6, 8

APG: 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 10


Draisatl

Assists: 1, 2, 6, 9

APG: 2, 3, 8

Kucherov is more consistently finishing top 10 in APG.

Based on age. Drai arrived earlier and always been elite since. He’s always been top 4 for 5 years now

 

[doorbag]

If both guys were playing for a team like Arizona or Chicago this year who would be having a better season?

It’s easy to discount Drai because he plays with McDavid but Kuch also has two hall of famers dishing him the puck or burying his passes.

I’m going with Drai all day here. Better goal scorer, better passer and plays center. Kuch is still absolutely elite so they are both pretty close. It’s more of a 2a/2b thing for me.

 

[Master P]

Kucherov easily.

 

[Sky04]

Kucherov easily

 

[Felidae]

Based on age. Drai arrived earlier and always been elite since. He’s always been top 4 for 5 years now

They are only 2 years apart.

And thats not relevant. The topic is who is better with what they have currently accomplished.

Besides, he hasn't been top 4 in assists for 5 years. Those are his point finishes.

 

[blundluntman]

Yah totally. Kuch only plays with stiffs on a team with no other talent.

We're not about to act like Stamkos or Point are better than McDavid who boosts all his teammate's stats. Kucherov is the best forward on his team. Draisaitl is not. Even then, they're still very close in stats

 

[TBF1972]

Again, this thread is comparing players and not the team they play for. One player had Nurse as their #1 D and Mike Smith as their starter last year while the other has Hedman and Vasi.

You must think Marchand is having a better year than Tage Thompson too.

one plays in the weaker conference.

 

[bobbyking]

Draisaitl put up 32 points in only three playoff rounds last year while playing on a busted ankle.

yes but kucherov clearly has the best reg season

 

[Canovin]

They are only 2 years apart.

And thats not relevant. The topic is who is better with what they have currently accomplished.

Besides, he hasn't been top 4 in assists for 5 years. Those are his point finishes.

You're the one posting their past stats and I followed with some lol.

And Drai is currently higher in the stats too

Aside from Kucherov's 128 points season, Drai has been better than Kucherov since

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Again, this thread is comparing players and not the team they play for. One player had Nurse as their #1 D and Mike Smith as their starter last year while the other has Hedman and Vasi.

You must think Marchand is having a better year than Tage Thompson too.

I think Marchand has very obviously proven more in the playoffs than Thompson.

 

[Machinehead]

The center

There is no center in the poll options.

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

I actually think that if people watch Draisatal they will be extremely impressed on how he can force his will, particularly in goal scoring.

Kucherov plays a more crafty, shifty type of game and is more subtle.


50 games is a large enough sample size.

This makes zero sense as the team loses in 4 game not the individual performance.

But is 37 games enough a large enough sample size? What if the other guy has 136 playoff games played?

And, if your team loses in 4 games and you score 5 points, are you really a good playoff performer?

 

[Canovin]

There is no center in the poll options.

Then you haven't been paying attention. RNH-Drai-Yamo has been 2nd line.

 

[Machinehead]

Then you haven't been paying attention. RNH-Drai-Yamo has been 2nd line.

Draisaitl's most common forward linemate this year (5v5) is Connor McDavid. It's not even particularly close, not counting Zach Hyman. If you make the sample larger, McDavid laps the field.

Draisaitl literally plays more wing than center. It's a verifiable fact.

Not to mention he isn't even good defensively. It used to be a talking point that you would take the center for two-way play. Now people take the center because it says "center" on NHL,com. It's a dogma.